The Explore-Plan-Code-Commit Workflow

After six weeks of intensive Claude Code usage at Puzzmo, one workflow pattern emerged as the foundation for all successful complex tasks: Explore, Plan, Code, Commit. This systematic approach transforms overwhelming development challenges into manageable, step-by-step processes.

Why This Workflow Matters

Most developers jump straight into coding when using AI assistance. This leads to:

- Incomplete understanding of the problem space
- Inconsistent implementations that don't follow project patterns
- Missing edge cases and integration points
- Technical debt from rushed solutions

The Explore-Plan-Code-Commit workflow prevents these issues by front-loading understanding and planning.

The Four Phases

1. Exploration Phase

Goal: Understand the problem space completely before writing any code.

What to do:
- Ask Claude to read and analyze relevant files
- Map out the current architecture and patterns
- Identify all integration points and dependencies
- Understand existing conventions and code style
- Gather comprehensive context before making decisions

Example prompt:

Before we implement the user authentication system, please:
1. Read through our existing user management files
2. Analyze our current database schema patterns  
3. Review how we handle sessions in other parts of the app
4. Identify our testing patterns for similar features
Don't write any code yet - I want to understand our current approach first.

Key principle: Resist the urge to start coding. Use Claude's ability to quickly read and understand your entire codebase.

2. Planning Phase

Goal: Create a documented, reviewable plan before implementation.

What to do:
- Use "think" keywords to trigger Claude's extended reasoning
- Create detailed implementation plans in markdown files
- Break complex tasks into specific, testable steps
- Identify potential gotchas and edge cases
- Validate the plan before moving to implementation

Example approach:

Now that we understand the current architecture, please think through 
and document a complete implementation plan for the authentication system. 
Create a plan that covers:
- Database schema changes needed
- API endpoint specifications  
- Frontend component requirements
- Testing strategy
- Migration approach
Save this as implementation-plan.md so we can review it together.

Key principle: Plans should be detailed enough that another developer could implement them. If the plan is vague, the implementation will be too.

3. Implementation Phase

Goal: Execute the plan systematically with continuous validation.

What to do:
- Follow the documented plan step by step
- Implement in small, testable increments
- Verify each step before proceeding to the next
- Stay focused on the documented approach
- Update the plan if you discover new requirements

Example approach:
- Implement one API endpoint completely (including tests) before moving to the next
- Build one frontend component fully before starting another
- Run tests after each increment to catch issues early

Key principle: The plan is your north star. Stick to it unless you discover something that requires a plan update.

4. Commit Phase

Goal: Package the work professionally with proper documentation.

What to do:
- Generate contextual, meaningful commit messages
- Update relevant documentation and changelogs
- Create comprehensive pull request descriptions
- Ensure all tests pass and code is properly formatted
- Clean up any temporary files or debugging code

Example commit process:

Please help me create a commit for this authentication implementation:
1. Generate a commit message that explains both what and why
2. Update our CHANGELOG.md with the new features
3. Create a PR description that explains the implementation approach
4. Run our test suite to ensure everything passes

Real-World Example

Here's how this workflow played out for a complex feature at Puzzmo:

Exploration (Day 1)

- Claude read through the existing game engine code
- Analyzed current event handling patterns
- Mapped out the state management architecture
- Identified performance bottlenecks in similar features

Planning (Day 1-2)

- Created detailed technical specification
- Broke down the work into 8 specific tasks
- Identified required database schema changes
- Planned backward-compatible migration strategy
- Documented testing approach

Implementation (Day 2-4)

- Followed the plan step by step
- Each task was completed and tested before moving forward
- Plan was updated twice when we discovered new requirements
- Continuous integration caught issues early

Commit (Day 4)

- Generated comprehensive commit messages
- Updated documentation and changelog
- Created detailed PR with implementation notes
- All tests passing, code review approved

Common Pitfalls

Rushing the Exploration

Don't skip understanding the current state. Ten minutes of exploration can save hours of refactoring later.

Vague Planning

Plans like "implement user auth" are too broad. Break it down to specific, actionable tasks.

Deviating from the Plan

If you need to change direction, update the plan first. This maintains clarity and helps with review.

Poor Commit Hygiene

Don't rush the final step. Good commits and documentation make future maintenance much easier.

When to Use This Workflow

Always use for:
- New features with multiple components
- Refactoring existing systems
- Integration with external services
- Performance optimization projects
- Security implementations

Can skip for:
- Simple bug fixes
- Typo corrections
- Minor style adjustments
- Adding simple utility functions

Tips for Success

1. Use the TodoWrite tool to track progress through each phase
2. Save plans as markdown files for future reference
3. Time-box exploration to prevent analysis paralysis
4. Review plans with team members before implementation
5. Treat the plan as a living document that can be updated

The Explore-Plan-Code-Commit workflow transforms Claude Code from a code generator into a systematic development partner. It front-loads understanding, reduces surprises, and produces higher-quality, more maintainable results.